Lest We Forget I Had a Birthday

Subconciously, I was going to slip that little birthday under the rug.  I really don't get freaked about my birthday.  There have been numbers that have seemed more significant than others.  But in general, I look forward to my birthday.  I look forward to Halloween and all of the festivities that come with it, I look forward to feeling a little special and receiving wishes and cards and gifts.  But let's be honest folks, birthdays do become a bit stale the more you have.  And now, being on the other side of 30 - numbers prior to this were still low 30s.  I am officially on the other side, in the upper 30s and it feels a bit odd.  I know that 40 is just around the bend. 

My DH did a great job on my birthday.  He did all of the things that make the day a little different than the next.  He let me sleep in, he made me breakfast, he let me dictate the days activities, he took the kiddos off in another direction while I went to the mall and out to lunch with my sister.  He bought a ridiculously large cake that we all adored.  And of course, he gave me a lovely gift that was very thoughtful.  A watch.  I haven't had a 'fancy' watch (Mia's description) in a long time.  It's perfect.

Of course, when I was digging for a complement and asked him, "How does it feel to be married to a 36 year old?"  My smooth, romantic husband said, "It sounds old.  Especially, considering I stopped aging at 28."  Hm.

Here are the things I learned during my 36th year:

• I have known this for awhile, but every year it seems to solidify, my family truly is the most important thing to me.  I have been blessed with an amazing, talented and funny husband who supports me and challenges me; and he just happens to be pretty easy on the eyes.  And somehow we were given two amazing kids with another on the way.
• Pregnancy becomes harder the older you get.  Sometimes the spirit is willing but the body is just not able.
• I have an amazing support group of friends and family and am constantly humbled by the acts of service that they provide.
• Kids grow up fast.
• My energy for fighting battles in life has diminished, I need to regroup and pick the ones that are truly worthwhile. 
• Even at the ripe old age of 36, a five year old and a four year will be the two people that try my patience on a daily basis.  Not the global financial meltdown, not the sluggish race reform in our country, not the mom's at the PTO, not the speed of my internet connection - oh no, definitely the five year old and the four year that I live with.
• Try, try, try to live in the moment.  Because it can all be gone in the blink of an eye. 

Wow - I got all serious today.  Thanks to everyone for making my birthday great.  Now I have to get used to checking the 36-44 box on surveys, yuk.

Halloween Fun

We had a great time this Halloween! 

Mia's pumpkin, prepared for carving!

Pumpkin carving is serious business.

Neighborhood parade

We didn't have a six in the candle drawer, shoot!

Awww - pumpkin kisses.

Aunt Daphne came and helped, thank goodness!

The haul, we may have candy until Christmas.

All Good Things Must End

In the process of recovering from the weekend, I have been opting for sleep instead of blogging.  I have been informed by more than one person that I COULD have a baby in four or five weeks.  Even though I have nine more weeks to go (yes, we are in single digits) Jac tried to come six weeks early and Mia tried to come five weeks early, and actually came four weeks early.  So, I am big, slow and have a lot to do, but sleeping right now trumps everything.

But that isn't what this blog post is about.  The end of Mia's birthday, that is what this is about.  Over the weekend we were able to celebrate her birthday with her cousins and she also was able to take a special treat to school this week to celebrate.  I must admit, I am glad to see the birthday come to a close.

Everything Checks Out Good

Mia had her four year checkup yesterday.  She was such a big girl.  Literally, this girl is big!  She is 90th percentile on height, I guess not too much of a shocker.  She is in the 50th percentile for weight.  Now these are great numbers, long and lean.  Hopefully she is able to effortlessly keep this body structure forever!  When Jeff heard these numbers, he said something like, "Sounds like her daddy."  He was very generous when he quickly ammended that to say, "Or her mommy!"  It kind of cracked me up.

The rest of her appointment went great, hearing test, blood pressure, physical, all good.  She talked to the doctor which is something my pedi does, to make sure everything is good with the child.  She asks questions like, "Where do you ride when you are in the car?"  I love that she is an advocate for her patient not necessarily the parent. 

Then came the shots.

I have had to hold Mia down twice in the last month to allow people to torture her.  Ugh.  She was sunny and cute and lovely and then she panicked.  She stood up on the table and practically ran to the other corner, I started to talk calm to her and get her "off the ledge", but she wasn't it having it.  So I grabbed her and told her that she had to lay down.  Double ugh.  She was so scared and big tears started to roll.  It was over quick, thank goodness.

As soon as I let her up, she popped up and straight into my arms and sobbed.  Until I asked her what was on her bandaids and then the sun came out again.  Amazing what a Tweety Bird bandage will do.  And off we went, like nothing had happened. 

Next year, Daddy gets to hold her down.

Party Girl

I may have reminded my stubborn, opinionated little girl 500 times that she was not having a huge birthday party.  It worked out that the family parties got divided up and as far as a friend party, I really think that should be something big that you can remember.  All birthdays before the age of five or six for me are pretty sketchy in my memory banks.  Jac had a big five year party with six or eight friends just three months ago, so that is what she had stuck in her head.  Not to mention that there were maybe 15 adults present at his party.  It was a pretty big time, but I can't do that every year for every child!  More power to the mommies who do that every year, it's a lot of work!

I was getting a little nervous that Mia was going to be disappointed in her party.  She kept saying things like, "I won't have a lot of friends at my party, but all my cousins will be there."  I would then follow up with, "No, none of your cousins will be here on your birthday."  And she would glare at me and say, "I know!"  Then she would invite the neighbor boys to her "party", her nonexistent party.  And I would have to look at the mom and whisper, "There is  no party!"  And on and on, she also gave me lots of details about games and crafts and other fun things that would occur at her "party".  There were many times that I looked in her eyes and told her firmly that she would have a big friend party on her fifth birthday, just like Jac and that her fourth birthday was going to be two neighbor girls over for a craft and then opening presents with Mommy, Daddy and Jac.  I felt like I was deprogramming a prisoner of war, she would totally agree with me and say something like, "I was talking about my party next year."  But then the next day we would be back to the same conversation. 

So I caved, a tiny bit.  We bought more decorations than I intended.  I made cake and cupcakes so her friends would have a more "party" experience.  We also went to the Magic House a couple of weeks ago.  She is a mildly discontent little girl that sees the flaws in the world versus a sunnier outlook.  So again, I was nervous.

We talked about the cake.  She told me in detail, exactly what the cake would like and that I would be making it.  I like to make cake, all your love goes into it, but I am exhausted folks!  But of course when your baby girl asks you to make her "rainbow" cake you have to agree.  I fudged a little, my rainbow only had six colors; not seven.  As the days wore on she would tell me things like, "It will be half yellow and half blue, with a rainbow."  The last detail she added was Monday while we were baking the actualy cake, "Mommy if it is a rainbow cake it has to have clouds."  Seriously, birthday or not I think I snapped back at that one and told her she had to stop adding details. 

So here it is, the cake (with clouds, what can I say, I am a softy) was completely her concept.  The decorations and wrapping paper were solely picked out by Miss Mia.  We made pom pom animals that were a bit too difficult for four and five year old hands to create.  She decided on all the party favors.  I told her next year her party would be a complete surprise!  I didn't add that otherwise, she might not make it to her fifth birthday party....

And lest you think she is completely spoiled, she insisted that all of her friends get to blow out a candle on their cupcake also.  Her idea.

We visited the toy store a couple of times to try and get birthday ideas.  She was not shy in pointing to every toy and saying she wanted it.  I told her she needed to say, "I like this."  Before opening her gifts she told me that she couldn't wait to play with her Oso toy, I had to tell her she wasn't getting an Oso toy.  She also said that she was going to have two doll houses now, because she already had one and she had picked one out at the toy store.  What a lucky girl, nevermind that all of her gifts on the table could literally fit into a shoe box.  I let that one slide. 

We got her a camera from Fisher Price, one of those indestructible ones, she loved it.  We got her Twinkle Toes from Sketchers, she adores those.  She received some footy pjs, her favorite.  She wanted a two dollar vibrating microphone that we had somehow managed to avoid for four years.  She also got some paints, a Playdoh accessory and a basket for her bike.  She loved all of her gifts.  She was over the moon for her cake, although she didn't eat any of it.  She loved her name up on the wall, although thought it would have looked better in rainbow paper.  She really had a good time and felt special the whole day. 

Now I have a whole year to set expectations about her fifth birthday party, whew!

Mia Turns Four

How is that possible?  Well, all of the cliches are true.  They grow up so fast. 

My precious baby girl is now a fully fledged pre-schooler with opinions, ideas and spunk.  This little girl is going to give the world a run for it's money.  She is a girl full of contradictions and complexity.  She'll tell you she isn't afraid of ANYTHING, except when she gets sleepy.  She loves to browse the baby toy section, but thinks that she can do anything that Jac and his friends can do.  She needs privacy to go to the bathroom, but still wants you to help clean up.  She is a tomboy without a prissy bone in her body, but still insists on wearing dresses when she wants to wear them. 

I love that she has a lisp that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. I love that she sucks her thumb and needs her blankie almost perpetually.  I love that she holds her big brother's hand when she is scared.  I love that she still says 'wipe' instead of 'white'.  I love that she will squeeze herself into any stroller that you offer.

And then the contradictions.  I love that she gets mad at you if you didn't let her order her own food at the restaurant.  I love that she is generous beyond her years and will share absolutely anything.  I love that she soothes her big brother when he gets hurt.  I love that she knows exactly what she wants and can explain it to you.  I love that she can remember tiny details from when she was two.

She is clearly a female.  She is hard to figure out and wonderful when you do.  She is everything you would want in a daughter and a sister; but I can see glimpses of the friend and even wife and mother she will become.  She is compassionate, trustworthy, loyal and so stubborn.  She can negotiate better than most 35 year olds.  She can pull off wearing winter boots in July and knows exactly what angle to wear a hat.

Did I mention she gives the best hugs and kisses?

Magic for Kids

The children's museum in St Louis, is truly magical.  Mia has been asking to go to the Magic House all summer and we just didn't get around to it.  So for her birthday we invited another family; who has a daughter turning four also and we all met at the Magic House on Saturday.

So much fun.  Mia and Jac both did things they had never done before, like climbing the huge bean stalk. 

We played indoors and out and had about three hours of fun, which was our max.

 Then we stopped and ate a snack with our friends. 

We all took a snooze after such a big day, I think mommy won the nap award with a 2 hour one! 

Mia Month

If the beginning of summer belongs to Jac, the end of summer will definitely be a big Mia fest.  I have begun to hear things like this, "Can I have juice for dinner, since my birthday is so close?"  Clever isn't she.  Her first birthday celebration was this weekend at Gee Gee and Papa's house. 

We started the weekend off with a trip to the lake where Jac and Mia both had their first wave runner ride(or road runner ride if you are Mia) and Jac even tried out the tube with his Aunt Misty and loved it.  Some good bonding with Uncle Doug and Aunt Misty.  Then we all came home and rested, at least I did, not sure what everyone did while I took a two hour nap.

It was my parent's 45th anniversary this weekend so it was a rolling celebration between anniversary and Mia's birthday (of course Mia's birthday isn't until September).  My sister, brother and sister-in-law and myself all chipped in and made a Mexican feast for the family.  I now know that even though my mom always has leftovers from big family dinners, she does a much better job judging food volume.  I think we could have fed a small Mexican army with the leftovers from our dinner, my parents are going to be absolutely sick of eating Mexican by the end of this week. 

Then it was present time.  Mia received some wonderful gifts.  She loves to cook and Gee Gee set her up with her own real cooking utensils and cookbook.  She also received lots of books, a snap doll, beads for making her own necklaces, a dress-up dress and all kinds of other things.  She blew out the candles on a totally pink cake and seemed a bit overwhelmed while all of us sang happy birthday.  Needless to say she had fun.

My parents were also happy to get their own cake and a few gifts.  We took lots of pictures of Mom and Dad with the grandkids.  All in all it was a pretty special evening.

Space Party

The big space birthday bash was a hit.  I heard my niece who is four going on five say, "that was the best day ever".  And one of Jac's friends who came to the party said, "that was the best birthday party".   Yay!  It was a lot of fun, but oh it went by so fast!   I often say that for events in our lives we should hire in a photog to capture the moments so that we can really be in the moment and not worry about a camera.  Regardless, here are some of the highlights of the party.

We had blue and black balloons, with black table clothes, stars and balloons everywhere! 

The solar system was centered around the kitchen, of course.  Doesn't the world revolve around me?

Take me to your leader.

My friend Kerrie gave me her super awesome cake recipe, my friend Magen helped me come up with the idea, I baked the cake and made the sketch and my sister Daphne decorated it!  The cake was delicious and ended up being very cute.

The first Pinata of the household went over very well.  Jac was a bit timid, but hit it nicely.  Mia wasn't timid but her wild swings missed which upset her.  So she only took one turn.

We had a "moon" rock hunt in the basement.  All of the moon rocks had things that you would need or find on the moon in them and some space candy.  (Flashlights, aliens, glow sticks, Starbursts, Pop Rocks and Milky Ways)

Blowing out the candles.

Jac had a great time at the party and was absolutely exhausted the next day.  (So was mommy.)

My Big Five Year Old

Oh Jac, how can you be five?  The oldest cliche in the book, but time really does fly.  I think the most accurate is that the days are so long but the years go by so fast.  At least for a stay at home mom. 

As Jac matures I see glimpses of what he will become.  I want to help him be the best him he can be.  He is my sensitive boy, my cuddler.  He has a tendency to explode into expertise on a subject or with a task because he holds off until he has almost mastered a task before displaying it.  I used to call him my little incredible Hulk because most of his mile stones that he achieved as a baby were done in a fit of rage. 

He is all boy.  He loves cars, sports, space.  He kills spiders for me.  He loves to help with house projects and wants to use the tools.  He loves geography and traveling and maps.  He wants to figure out how things work, like where the water from the toilet goes, and how the Earth goes around the sun and why the car gives of "smoke" on a cold morning.  He loves to be silly and gross, but by and large only does this in the company of other little boys.  He is sensitive enough to play well with little girls and because of geography and because he has a sister plays with girls quite often. 

It hasn't always been an easy task, raising, disciplining, teaching, steering this little boy.  I have cried more times than I can count because I feel ill equiped.  But I discovered that a mother's love grows each day.  I was actually a bit shocked by this.  I thought that my love was quite large and strong when he was born and I gazed at what looked like an impossibly large baby that had just come out of me.  I didn't know that as I learned about him, as I got to know him and all of his quirks and likes and preferences my love would grow.  I am awed by this and wonder if it will continue to grow throughout our lives together. 

Jac's birthday wasn't this spectacular event.  We were driving back from Hilton Head, none of his cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles or friends were there to greet us.  We didn't have a big party AND it was Mother's Day.  However, on Saturday I hope to make it up to him and throw him one amazing space bash.  More to come on that later.  He got some cool toys but still seems a bit confused about when his party is. 

Here are some of my favorite photos of Jac through the years.  I have decided that the fifth year was a big one, it is when they lose a lot of the babyishness and become little people.  They master a lot of things that have eluded them and emerge with all these new found talents.  Savor their fourth year, the last of the baby,  and revel in the fifth, it is an amazing time.

Clearly he doesn't know what to think about getting his first sink bath - he reminds me of a snowman.

Transitioning from two naps to one is hard work, he would fall asleep while eating.

Always curious and a big helper, our tradition of carving several pumpkins is a keeper.

His first picture of a "person".

The best gift we never gave him, Thanks Aunt Tina!

First fishing trip with Papa last summer - he caught a really little catfish.

Birthday, birthday, goose

I mean duck.  I guess it actually should be duck, duck, duck, duck, duck - no goose.  The ducks hatched over the weekend.  Although I had no part in it and didn't even see the event I still felt like a worried mama when I checked the nest around 9 am on Saturday and it was empty.  Much to my shock.  Nothing except a few grey feathers hanging around.  I was upset, but did think maybe they had hatched and were already heading for the pond.  The weird thing, not one egg shell.

I got a phone call later that day from my neighbor congratulating me on the ducklings!  Yay!  So as a family we went to the pond to see if we could find them swimming happily around.  No luck.  I kept watch out for them until around 7pm, no ducks.  Then I thought maybe they made a different nest and weren't coming back to our yard, which made me a little sad. 

It stormed really bad all day on Saturday.  It definitely wasn't the best day to hatch and learn how to swim.  On Sunday, I was working on dinner when Trucker went berserk.  I glanced up, because random squirrels will make him sound like that and usually it isn't anything to get excited about.  Except this time!  There was mama duck with her 5 ducklings splashing and playing in a puddle right out on our patio.  They got scared and high tailed it out of the yard.  So, we do have ducks.  It seems that either some didn't hatch or some of them didn't make it through the first day which was a torrential downpour and high winds.  But there are five and they are cute!  I really am going to try and get some pictures, but those little suckers are really fast.

On another note, it is birthday season.  A lot of Jac's friends have birthdays right around his.  Which is a nice little build up to his big day.  I think five is a pretty big birthday and definitely one that he will remember.  He is going to have a space themed party and I hope that I can make it fun.  He has been invited to a lot of the destination birthday spots - gymnastics places, bouncy places.  We aren't quite ready to do something like that in the Carey household, hopefully his little party at the house will hold up to all those.  If you have any great space ideas, let me know.  I am toying with the idea of doing the cake myself, which I haven't done in a couple of years.  We'll see, it is a lot of work. 

Half Birthday Party

Everybody should celebrate their half birthday!  Well, everyone but me that is.  I need a half birthday like I need another person's poop to clean up.  But, Mia, she definitely needed to celebrate her half birthday.  Her birthday falls before school starts, so she doesn't get the "cupcakes at school, that all the little kids just eat the icing so I should have just bought a big tub of icing party", like all the other kids. 

Well, I didn't bring cupcakes because our school is nut free.  I brought little ice cream cups which were a big hit.  Here are some cutie pics of the party and the half birthday girl.

I am going to seriously consider wearing a crown on my birthday.  It justs adds a little je ne sais pas.

Eating ice cream.

With all my friends.

And my brother.

We Love Space

Space is big in our house.  Both Jac and Mia are going to be astronauts when they grow up.  And Jac has decided to have a space themed birthday party. 

If anyone has any great space ideas - food, decorations, etc shoot them over to me.